Kinetics of styrene biodegradation by Pseudomonas sp. E-93486

The research into kinetics of styrene biodegradation by bacterial strain Pseudomonas sp. E-93486 coming from VTT Culture Collection (Finland) was presented in this work. Microbial growth tests in the presence of styrene as the sole carbon and energy source were performed both in batch and continuous cultures. Batch experiments were conducted for initial concentration of styrene in the liquid phase changed in the range of 5–90 gm−3. The Haldane model was found to be the best to fit the kinetic data, and the estimated constants of the equation were: μm= 0.1188 h−1, KS=5.984 mg l−1, and Ki=156.6 mg l−1. The yield coefficient mean value Yapp xs for the batch culture was 0.72 gdry cells weight(gsubstrate)−1. The experiments conducted in a chemostat at various dilution rates (D=0.035–0.1 h−1) made it possible to determine the value of the coefficient for maintenance metabolism md=0.0165 h−1 and the maximum yield coefficient value YM xs ¼ 0:913. Chemostatexperiments confirmed the high value of yield coefficient Yapp xs observed in the batch culture. The conducted experiments showed high activity of the examined strain in the styrene biodegradation process and a relatively low sensitivity to inhibition of its growth at higher concentrations of styrene in the solution. Such exceptional features of Pseudomonas sp. E-93486 make this bacterial strain the perfect candidate for technical applications

Morphology and surficial sediments of the Waldemar River confined outwash fan (Kaffiøyra, Svalbard)

The development and evolution of confined outwash fans in high Arctic regions depend on the rate of meltwater discharge which is directly related to the glacier ablation rate associated with climate conditions. Another factor controlling outwash fan morphology (e.g. distributive channels depth and width) are processes of fluvial erosion, transport and sediments deposition. All these factors have not previously been considered in relation to the evolution of confined outwash fans incised into the top of permafrost which commonly occur in the forefield of a subpolar glacier and mountains in the high Arctic regions. Morphology and surficial sediments of a confined outwash fan of the Waldemar River (NW Spitsbergen, Svalbard) were analysed on the basis of geomorphological and sedimentological researches. Results of our investigations show multiple relations between the depth and width of distributary channels, fan slope and textural features of glaciofluvial surficial sediments supplied into the fluvial system from glacier and as a result of lateral fluvial erosion of permafrost

Influence of additional carbon sources on chlorophenols degradation by strain Pseudomonas sp

Szczep Pseudomonas sp. wykazywał zdolność do rozkładu wybranych chlorofenoli, jednak nie obserwowano wzrostu hodowli bakteryjnej w trakcie prowadzenia badań. W podjętych badaniach sprawdzono wpływ obecności dodatkowego źródła węgla na proces degradacji dichlorofenoli i pentachlorofenolu przez szczep Pseudomonas sp. Wykazano wzrost szybkości degradacji dichlorofenoli w obecności glukozy lub ekstraktu drożdżowego w porównaniu z hodowlami bez dodatkowego źródła węgla. Odmienne wyniki uzyskano w badaniach nad szybkością degradacji PCP w obecności dodatkowego źródła węgla. Dodanie ekstraktu drożdżowego nie zmieniło szybkości degradacji pentachlorofenolu w porównaniu z hodowlą bez dodatkowego źródła węgla. Obecność glukozy lub cytrynianu sodu do pożywki hamowało rozkład pentachlorofenolu. Abstrac

Wizerunek ateisty i jego miejsce na konfesyjnej mapie świata na Śląsku Cieszyńskim

The image of the atheist and his place on the confessional map of the world in Cieszyn Silesia The aim of this article is to create an image of the atheist based on historical and contemporary sources. The history of the concept of the atheist is described on the basis of the regional press, the contemporary picture of the concept – on the basis of the results of a questionnaire and discussions on religious topics on regional websites. The analysis showed that the concept of the atheist is treated as a term equivalent to the terms of members of different churches. The research shows not only the image of the atheist, but also its place in the system of perception of religious differences.   Wizerunek ateisty i jego miejsce na konfesyjnej mapie świata na Śląsku Cieszyńskim Celem niniejszego artykułu jest stworzenie obrazu ateisty na podstawie źródeł historycznych i współczesnych. Historia pojęcia ateisty została opisana na podstawie prasy regionalnej, współczesny obraz – na podstawie wyników ankiet i dyskusji na tematy religijne na regionalnych stronach internetowych. Analiza wykazała, że pojęcie ateisty jest traktowane jako pojęcie równorzędne z określeniami członków różnych Kościołów. W wyniku badań przedstawiono nie tylko wizerunek ateisty, lecz także jego miejsce w systemie postrzegania różnic wyznaniowych

Changes in fatty acid composition of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia KB2 during co-metabolic degradation of monochlorophenols

The changes in the cellular fatty acid composition of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia KB2 during cometabolic degradation of monochlorophenols in the presence of phenol as well as its adaptive mechanisms to these compounds were studied. It was found that bacteria were capable of degrading 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) completely in the presence of phenol, while 2-chlorophenol (2-CP) and 3-chlorophenol (3-CP) they degraded partially. The analysis of the fatty acid profiles indicated that adaptive mechanisms of bacteria depended on earlier exposure to phenol, which isomer they degraded, and on incubation time. In bacteria unexposed to phenol the permeability and structure of their membranes could be modified through the increase of hydroxylated and cyclopropane fatty acids, and straight-chain and hydroxylated fatty acids under 2-CP, 3-CP and 4-CP exposure, respectively. In the exposed cells, regardless of the isomer they degraded, the most important changes were connected with the increase of the contribution of branched fatty acid on day 4 and the content of hydroxylated fatty acids on day 7. The changes, particularly in the proportion of branched fatty acids, could be a good indicator for assessing the progress of the degradation of monochlorophenols by S. maltophilia KB2. In comparison, in phenol-degrading cells the increase of cyclopropane and straight-chain fatty acid content was established. These findings indicated the degradative potential of the tested strain towards the co-metabolic degradation of persistent chlorophenols, and extended the current knowledge about the adaptive mechanisms of these bacteria to such chemicals

Przekraczanie granic dialektu – przypadek śląski. Analiza funkcjonalna

Crossing the Boundaries of Dialect – the Case of Silesia: A Functional Analysis The article presents the results of a functional analysis of Silesian texts used in internet communication. The linguistic corpus consists of texts from portals and websites related to Upper Silesia, Opole Silesia and Cieszyn Silesia (including the Czech part). If the Silesian isolect is used as the main means of communication, all communication functions can be performed. Texts in the Silesian code particularly often fulfill metatextual and representational functions. For some functions, language stylization is used. As stylistic means in Silesian texts, lexical  means from other codes are primarily used, i.e. from standard Polish, Czech, English, and German; lexemes with a clear slang character are included in the output codes. The communicative functions of these stylistic means are primarily poetic and expressive.   Przekraczanie granic dialektu – przypadek śląski. Analiza funkcjonalna W artykule przedstawiono wyniki analizy funkcjonalnej tekstów śląskich, wykorzystywanych w komunikacji internetowej. Korpus materiałowy pochodzi z portali i stron internetowych związanych z terenem Górnego Śląska, Śląska Opolskiego i Śląska Cieszyńskiego (łącznie z czeską częścią). W przypadku wykorzystania kodu śląskiego jako głównego środka komunikacji realizowane są wszystkie funkcje komunikacyjne. Teksty w kodzie śląskim szczególnie często realizują funkcję metatekstową i funkcję przedstawieniową. W wypadku niektórych funkcji sięga się po stylizację językową. W funkcji środków stylistycznych w tekstach śląskich wykorzystywane są przede wszystkim środki leksykalne z innych kodów: ogólnopolskiego, czeskiego, angielskiego, niemieckiego, w tym również leksemy o wyraźnym nacechowaniu slangowym w kodach wyjściowych. Funkcje komunikacyjne tych środków stylistycznych to przede wszystkim funkcja poetycka i funkcja ekspresywna

Enzymes involved in vinyl acetate decomposition by Pseudomonas fluorescens PCM 2123 strain

Esterases are widely used in food processing industry, but there is little information concerning enzymes involved in decompositions of esters contributing to pollution of environment. Vinyl acetate (an ester of vinyl alcohol and acetic acid) is a representative of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in decomposition, of which hydrolyses and oxidoreductases are mainly involved. Their activities under periodically changing conditions of environment are essential for the removal of dangerous VOCs. Esterase and alcohol/aldehyde dehydrogenase activities were determined in crude cell extract from Pseudomonas fluorescens PMC 2123 after vinyl acetate induction. All examined enzymes exhibit their highest activity at 30–35 °C and pH 7.0–7.5. Esterase preferably hydrolyzed ester bonds with short fatty chains without plain differences for C2 or C4. Comparison of Km values for alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenases for acetaldehyde suggested that this metabolite was preferentially oxidized than reduced. Activity of alcohol dehydrogenase reducing acetaldehyde to ethanol suggested that one mechanism of defense against the elevated concentration of toxic acetaldehyde could be its temporary reduction to ethanol. Esterase activity was inhibited by phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride, while β-mercaptoethanol, dithiothreitol, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid had no inhibitor effect. From among metal ions, only Mg2+ and Fe2+ stimulated the cleavage of ester bond

Wizerunek ateisty i jego miejsce na konfesyjnej mapie świata na Śląsku Cieszyńskim

The image of the atheist and his place on the confessional map of the world in Cieszyn SilesiaThe aim of this article is to create an image of the atheist based on historical and contemporary sources. The history of the concept of the atheist is described on the basis of the regional press, the contemporary picture of the concept – on the basis of the results of a questionnaire and discussions on religious topics on regional websites. The analysis showed that the concept of the atheist is treated as a term equivalent to the terms of members of different churches. The research shows not only the image of the atheist, but also its place in the system of perception of religious differences. Wizerunek ateisty i jego miejsce na konfesyjnej mapie świata na Śląsku CieszyńskimCelem niniejszego artykułu jest stworzenie obrazu ateisty na podstawie źródeł historycznych i współczesnych. Historia pojęcia ateisty została opisana na podstawie prasy regionalnej, współczesny obraz – na podstawie wyników ankiet i dyskusji na tematy religijne na regionalnych stronach internetowych. Analiza wykazała, że pojęcie ateisty jest traktowane jako pojęcie równorzędne z określeniami członków różnych Kościołów. W wyniku badań przedstawiono nie tylko wizerunek ateisty, lecz także jego miejsce w systemie postrzegania różnic wyznaniowych

Isolation and characterization of a novel strain of stenotrophomonas maltophilia possessing various dioxygenases for monocyclic hydrocarbon degradation

A Gram-negative bacterium, designated as strain KB2, was isolated from activated sludge and was found to utilize different aromatic substrates as sole carbon and energy source. On the basis of morphological and physiochemical characteristics and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the isolated strain KB2 was identified as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Strain KB2 is from among different Stenotrophomonas maltophilia strains the first one described as exhibiting the activities of three types of dioxygenases depending on the structure of the inducer. The cells grown on benzoate and catechol showed mainly catechol 1,2- dioxygenase activity. The activity of 2,3-dioxygenase was detected after phenol induction. Protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase was found in crude cell extracts of this strain after incubation with 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, protocatechuic acid and vanillic acid. Because of broad spectrum of dioxygenases' types that Stenotrophomonas maltophilia KB2 can exhibit, this strain appears to be very powerful and useful tool in the biotreatment of wastewaters and in soil decontamination

Antioxidative effects of α-lipoic acid in the brain, liver and kidneys in selected mouse organs exposed to zymosan

This study investigated the role of exogenous α-lipoic acid (ALA) in the inflammation caused by zymosan application. Seventy-two adult male white mice were divided into twelve groups: three control groups, three Zymosan groups, three ALA groups and three groups being the combination of Zymosan and ALA. In the experimental groups, the animals were decapitated after 3, 6 and 24 hours after the injection. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were determined in the brain, liver and kidneys of the mice. After the injection of Zymosan, it was found that the activity of SOD, CAT and GSH-Px in the brain, liver and kidneys of mice was significantly lower in all time periods. The administration of ALA resulted in an opposite effect, namely, it increased the activity of the enzymes studied in the selected organs of mice. The Zymosan and ALA combination significantly inhibited the decrease in the activity of the enzymes compared with the values obtained in the groups of animals which received Zymosan only. The results of our study, using the Zymosan-induced inflammation, clearly indicate that ALA is an anti-inflammatory agent